SALEM — Residents may have a new option for disposing of construction and demolition debris starting next year.

Selectmen approved a plan on Monday to make low-cost construction and demolition disposal available to residents at privately owned LL&S Recycling on Lowell Road. The program would allow residents to purchase up to three coupons each calendar year to dispose of 500 pounds of construction and demolition debris. Each coupon would cost $25.

LL&S would take the coupon and bill the town for the actual weight up to 500 pounds. Amounts over 500 pounds would be charged to the customer when they dropped off the load. The coupons would only be accepted on Saturday because the company has a large volume of commercial traffic on weekdays.

Public Works Director Rick Russell spoke in support of the system. Returning construction and demolition disposal to the town transfer station would impede traffic flow, Russell said. Each C&D drop-off requires the customer to drive over the scale, unload, and return to the scale to calculate the correct weight. The process can tie up traffic and staff on busy days, he said.

The transfer station also does not have the means to process payments for loads over 500 pounds like LL&S does, Russell said.

“I think it’s a great solution to the problem,” said Selectman Everett McBride.

McBride previously suggested to the board a bulky permit system specifically for construction and demolition. The agreement would allow residents to dispose of C&D with no cost to the town, McBride said. The company also accepts asphalt shingles, the disposal of which can be costly, he said.

Selectman Stephen Campbell said the proposed agreement wasn’t much different than the current system.

“I don’t see the advantage of us being the middleman,” Campbell said.

Town Manager Keith Hickey said the program offers a low-cost option for residents to dispose of construction and demolition materials. LL&S currently accepts construction and demolition materials from Salem residents for $55 on Saturday and $75 on other days.

Selectman McBride made a motion to approve the coupon method starting in January contingent upon the town manager finalizing an agreement with LL&S. Hickey said he’s waiting to hear back from LL&S about whether their computer system can accommodate the coupon system.

During the last budget season, selectmen removed $95,748 that was earmarked for construction and demolition disposal at the town transfer station. The Municipal Budget Committee later returned $31,916 to fund three months of the service, which will end April 1.

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Julie Hanson may be reached at Jhanson@newstote.com.